Gaseous conduction lamp socket



May 27, 1947. aPl FORMAN 2,421,321

GAsEoUs CONDUCTION LAMP SOCKET Filed Aug. 15, 1945 INVENTOR.

PA UL FORMAN 'i BY ATTO RNWEY Patented May 27, 1947 UNITED STATES; PATENT OFFICE GASEOUS CONDUCTION LAMP SGKET ifaul Forman, Bronx, N; Y., assignor to Dial Light Co. of America, Inc., New York, N. Y.

Application August 13, 1945,- Serial No. 610,579

(Cl.r 20L- 49) 2 Claims.

This invention relates to gaseous conduction lamp socket pilot light assembly'and more particularly for use with neon pilot lamp of low wattage.

In lamps ci the neon type it is desirable to .include in the circuit of the lamp a current limiting resistance. This resistance is :intended to function for maintaining the current at such a value as will maintain the luminous phenomena taking place within the lamp. With the present invention a simple and practical mounting of the current limiting resistance is provided in the shell oi the lamp socket or receptacle.

The invention consists oi certain novel features of construction and combinations of parts which will be hereinafter' more fully described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawing, the figure is an enlarged vertical sectional view with some parts in elevation of the invention.

This invention is primarily intended for use with neon lamps oi V15 Watt, and this lamp is used in connection with lamp socket or shell having an inside diameter of .375. In order t use this lamp it is necessary to use a resistor in series with the A. C. line, this resistor varies in accordance with the voltage on the line. This invention therefore resides in mounting the resistor in the socket or shell.

In the drawing I9 represents the shell or socket which is provided with an open end for the reception of the neon lamp I I, and the wall of the shell is provided with bayonet slots I2 for the reception of lugs or pins i3 on the lamp il for attaching the lamp to the socket. Other scour-- ing means might be employed, but the foregoing has been adopted for illustration.

The shell I0 is provided with a bottom I4 having a central opening I 5 therein for the reception of a tubular plunger I6 adapted for sliding movement within the shell. The plunger I6 is provided with outwardly aring or flanged ends II, I8, and mounted within the tube is a resistor wire 20 provided with suitable insulation 2l between the wire and the brass plunger I6. An end of the wire is attached to the outer end of the plunger I6 by means of solder 22 or the like, while the opposite end of the wire is attached to an eyelet 23 by means cf solder 24. The eyelet 23 is carried by an insulated washer which is disposed within the shell IQ. Another insulated washer 21 is disposed between the inner end I8 of the plunger and the washer 25.

Mounted within the shell I0 and resting on the bottom thereof is an insulated washer 28 having a ycentral opening 29 registering with the opening i9 in the bottom of the shell Ill. EX- tending through the openings I5 and 29 oi the bottom I4 and washer 23 is a tubular sleeve 3@ with which the plunger lli has a sliding t. The inner end oi the sleeve 3B is ared outwardly in the form ci a flange 32 into engagement with the outer surface of the washer 28.

Resilient contact fingers 33-34 are provided with lateral extensions 35, 3B at one end and the extensions are provided with openings for the reception of the sleeve 30. The extension 35 is disposed against the bottom I4 of the shell I0 and suitable insulation 38 is disposed between the extensions 35-36 and between the sleeve 3i) and extension 35. An insulated washer 4i) is provided with a central opening in which a metal eyelet 42 is iitted, The eyelet 42 surrounds the sleeve 3U and establishes ametallic contact between the anged end 44 of the sleeve and lateral extension 3S of the finger 34.

The sleeve 30 forms the connecting means for securing the fingers 33, 34 to the shell in a suitably insulated manner also establishing an electrical connection between the finger 34 with the sleeve 30 and plunger I6.

Surrounding the plunger I6 is a coiled spring 4S, having one end bearing against the inner face of the flange IS of the plunger and the opposite end oi the spring engaging the inner end 32 of the sleeve 30, and tends to urge the plunger outwardly so that the flanged end I'I of the plunger I5 will be in contact with the eyelet 42 and the outer flanged portion 45 thereof.

In mounting the lamp II in the shell I0, the lamp will be forced inwardly of the shell for causing the lugs I3 to enter the slots I2 for securing the lamp to the shell, and this inward movement of the lamp will cause the contact 48 of the lamp to engage the eyelet contact 23 and move the plunger I6 outwardly against the action or tension of the spring 46. Upon securing the lamp II in position the spring will return the plunger I6 to its normal position and the contacts 23 and 48 will be in good electrical engagement.

With this construction the brass plunger IB is insulated from the shell I0 and the contact terminal 23-24 of the resistor 20 is disposed above the plunger and insulated therefrom by the insulation carried by the resistor 20 and the two insulated washers 25 and 21, which latter further insulate the plunger from the shell I0. With this construction we have a builtin resistor which is so disposed that it is in circuit whenever the lamp is brought into contact with the terminal contact 23-24 of the plunger.

The shell l may be enclosed in a housing 49 and suitably insulated therefrom, and the housing can be provided with a lens 50.

While the disclosure and description have been predicated to a single plunger carrying the resistor, it is possible that in lamps of greater Wattage more than one plunger might be employed and therefore one at least of these plungers would carry the resistor.

What I claim is:

1. In a socket, the combination with a shell, a hollow plunger slidably mounted in said shell and insulated therefrom, contact means carried by and having electrical Contact with said shell and another contact means carried by and insulated With respect to said shell and having electrical contact with said plunger, an insulated resistor mounted in said plunger and having an end thereof secured to said plunger, and contact means disposed in said shell and insulated from said shell and plunger, and secured to said resistor and movable therewith` 2. In a socket, the combination with a shell having a bottom, a tubular sleeve disposed REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the ille of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,736,204 Ludwig Nov. 19, 1929 1,872,068 Brown Aug. 16, 1932 2,135,534 Roper Nov. 8, 1938 879,224 Wappler Feb. 18, 1908 1,531,414 Ruben Mar. 3l, 1925 

